usb net-install for slackware why a local server?
 

Hello All,

Just curious why do all the tutorials on installing using the usb image state to use a local server instead of one of the slackware mirrors? What would be the problem with using a mirror close to you (oregon state opensource lab for me) as you would for package upgrades and such? Is it just not officially supported since everyone out there does not have a fast internet connection? Has anyone tried using one of the slackware mirrors to achieve this type of installation?

Mike

Well no matter how fast an Internet connection you have, it will always be slower than pulling it from a server on the network. It would also put more load on the mirrors if people started installing from them, especially if people are doing multiple machines.

That said, there is no technical reason why you couldn't install from a remote FTP server.

ok thanks, I guess I was wondering if it was something with the installer itself that made a netinstall from a slackware mirror problematic. I'll have to try it out.

I just install directly from /slackware/ on my 8G thumb drive - much faster - no strain on anyone's server / network

right, I am just curious if anyone has actually booted the installer and then pulled the packages in from a Slackware mirror. I just wondered if the installer itself would have had an issue with this and it seems that it would not. I'll mark this solved when I have a chance to try it myself or if someone posts that they have successfully installed this way.

I suppose it could limit network installs to local machines, but that would be a bit tricky to reliably detect and a good deal of work to accomplish an arbitrary goal.

But still, I have not tried myself so I can't say with 100% certainty.

So I just completed a Slackware net-install on my spare machine using the usb image and a Slackware mirror! No problems encountered, really just dead simple. Slackware never ceases to amaze me, what a fantastic distro. Unless there is something I am missing I don't see why this isn't more widely known especially with all the Arch, Gentoo, and Debian type folks who really love the net-install approach. Anyway cool stuff. Glad to know that I have another install option.